3.1.1 General
The animals used in this protocol were 28 day-old female C57BL6/J mice, which were transcardially perfused with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to decrease blood contamination (optional step). Mice can also be perfusion-fixed if taking DRG for immunofluorescence analysis. The dissection can be performed from about post-natal day 5 (P5) onwards, with alternative options available for embryonic DRG [23, 24]. All images and videos (Additional Files 2–4) were taken using a DSK 500 dual head stereo microscope (Motic, Barcelona, Spain, PM5539B901) with attached Moticam 1080 HDMI digital camera (Motic, MC1080), except for Fig. 1a, b, d, and e, and video 1 (Additional File 1), which were recorded using an iPhone 6 s. To preserve neuronal health for downstream applications, all steps should be completed efficiently and tissue kept as cold as possible. Use of a laminar flow hood will reduce contamination frequency of primary cultures [19], but is not strictly necessary.
3.1.3 Dissection
While we have described mouse DRG dissection in a previous protocol [9], we did not provide sufficient direction for accurate isolation of ganglia across specific spinal levels. Here, we will thus explain the process from spinal column excision to DRG removal from defined lower lumbar to upper cervical spinal levels, with reference to videos (Additional Files 1–4).
3.1.3.1 Spinal column excision
Spinal column excision can be performed in any manner that results in its isolation from the base of the skull to beyond the femurs, while leaving the most caudal pair of ribs intact. We use the following method, which is illustrated in the original protocol [9]. Cull the animal and confirm death using an appropriate method approved by your local ethics committee. Lightly wet the fur with ethanol to restrict the spread of hair. Remove the pelt by grasping the skin at the back of the animal, making an incision in the region of the lower back/femurs, and cutting/tearing the skin around the circumference of the animal in the transverse plane. Pull the pelt up towards the arms/head and cut through the skin up and along the mid-line to reveal the skull. Cut away the arms beneath the scapulas and remove the head by cutting as close to the base of the skull as possible. Turn the mouse over and make an incision trough the ventral abdominal wall covering the intestines. Cut laterally along the musculature to the spinal column, turn the scissors 90˚ so that the blades are parallel with and adjacent to the column, and cut up towards the head, through the 13 pairs of ribs [18], until the tip of the scissor blade becomes visible. Be careful to not cut away all of the most caudal rib, as this serves as a key marker in subsequent steps. Repeat on the other side of the body and then cut away the viscera ventrally attached to the column. Turn the mouse 180˚ so that the scissor blades are once again parallel and adjacent with the column and cut through both femurs. Cut and relieve the column just caudal to where the femurs were attached (Fig. 1a, b). Using curved scissors with the tips pointing away from the column, carefully remove surrounding tissues (e.g. muscle) and remaining ribs, except for the most caudal pair (Fig. 1c, d). Once thoroughly cleared, it will be easier to identify individual vertebrae and discs (Fig. 1e), which will considerably aid bisection.
3.1.3.2 Spinal column bisection
This part of the dissection is depicted in Additional File 1. Using a scalpel blade, make a transverse cut through the ventral aspect of the column at the most caudal ribs. The spinal cord can be seen through the vertebrae on the ventral side, but not the dorsal, where the bones are thicker (clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3). The resulting caudal and rostral segments contain thoracic level 13 (T13) to lumbar level 5/6 (L5/6) (and beyond) and cervical level 1 (C1) to T12 DRG, respectively. With thick forceps, firmly hold the caudal segment, ventral-side up, along its length. Using a curved scalpel blade to allow a rolling motion, bisect the spinal column from one end to the other, down the mid-line creating two hemi-segments. When cutting, be careful to not let the segment slip/roll, as this will result in a more difficult DRG extraction and may damage/destroy the ganglia. Repeat this process with the rostral segment, using curved forceps to hold the rostral end.
3.1.3.3 Lumbar DRG extraction
This part of the dissection is depicted in Additional File 2. Move the hemi-segments to a Sylgard-lined petri dish containing ice-cooled PBS. Secure a caudal hemi-segment with the spinal canal facing outwards by putting two insect pins through intervertebral discs, one towards each end of the column (Fig. 2a). Remove the spinal cord and, by blunt dissection with forceps, cut through axon bundles that project from the in situ DRG up towards the dislodged spinal cord (Fig. 2b). Individual DRG can be observed within intervertebral foramina at the level of each disc. To orientate the segment, vertebrae become larger towards the tail end, while L3 to L5 DRG tend to be coated in dark melanin patches in C57BL6/J mice. The first DRG at the rostral end is T13, progressing caudally to L1 and onto L5 (Fig. 2c). L4 DRG are the largest, with axon bundles to match, and can be used to confirm spinal level (Fig. 2n). Starting at the rostral end, grasp the meninges, which line the spinal canal and look like translucent sheets (Supplementary Fig. 1a), and pull back towards the caudal end (Fig. 2d, e). If they prove difficult to identify, grasp with forceps at vertebrae between the ganglia. Removal of this membranous layer, aids DRG extraction. Be careful that DRG do not get dislodged at this point. If they do, take note of the spinal level, cut and collect the meninges containing the DRG, and attempt to remove from the membrane (pinning to the Sylgard can help). Identify the spinal level (Fig. 2f) and extract individual DRG by grasping at distal axon bundles, found within the foramina, and lifting the ganglia up and out (Fig. 2g-j). All DRG within a segment tend to lie in a similar orientation/angle; in both the segment imaged (Fig. 2) and video recorded (Additional File 2), DRG fall from right to left. Collect the DRG from the side with easiest access to the axons, i.e. from the right in these examples.
3.1.3.4 Lumbar DRG cleaning
This part of the dissection is depicted in Additional File 3. DRG can be removed and cleaned individually, or in groups, taking care with the second option to not confuse spinal levels. Detach the DRG axon bundles using micro spring scissors (Fig. 2k-m). To get a close cut and thus remove as much axon as possible, it can help to maneuver an axon bundle using forceps through open scissors until the DRG is adjacent to the blades before cutting. Repeat on all bundles. Sometimes, meninges remain attached to DRG after extraction (Supplementary Fig. 1b); carefully drag or simply cut them off. T13 to L5/6 can be isolated from this segment of the column (Fig. 2n, o).
3.1.3.5 Thoracic and cervical DRG extraction
This part of the dissection is depicted in Additional File 4. Using 3–4 insect pins through intervertebral discs, secure the caudal segment to the Sylgard (Fig. 3a). The most caudal DRG, found at the straight end of this hemi-segment, is T12; be aware that sometimes the transverse cut made at the caudal ribs can damage this DRG pair. To confirm spinal levels, place rostral and caudal segments next to each other and visually assess the region of the transverse cut. Remove the spinal cord and axotomise the centrally projecting bundles as done for the lumbar segment. The meninges here tend to come away in two membranous layers. Extract the first by grasping it in the lower thoracic region and pulling up towards the head end (Fig. 3b-d), once again taking care not to dislodge ganglia. Repeat this for the second layer (Fig. 3e, f). Be aware that as you reach the cervical region, the DRG will nearly always be pulled from their foramina. Use this to your advantage by collecting the DRG via their centrally or distally projecting axons with a second pair of forceps. Cervical DRG can be collected before or after thoracic DRG (Fig. 3g, h) (the latter is done in Additional File 4). Separate axons as done for the DRG of the caudal segment (Fig. 2k-m and Additional File 3).